Diagnosis

Your doctor can usually make a diagnosis based on your answers to questions about your symptoms, a general physical exam and an examination of your nose. Polyps may be visible with the aid of a simple lighted instrument.

Other diagnostic tests include:

Nasal endoscopy. A narrow tube with a lighted magnifying lens or tiny camera (nasal endoscope) enables your doctor to perform a detailed examination inside your nose and sinuses. He or she inserts the endoscope into a nostril and guides it into your nasal cavity.

Imaging studies. Images obtained with computerized tomography (CT) can help your doctor pinpoint the size and location of polyps in deeper areas of your sinuses and evaluate the extent of inflammation. These studies may also help your doctor rule out the presence of other possible obstructions in your nasal cavity, such as structural abnormalities or another type of cancerous or noncancerous growth.

Allergy tests. Your doctor may suggest skin tests to determine if allergies are contributing to chronic inflammation. With a skin prick test, tiny drops of allergy-causing agents (allergens) are pricked into the skin of your forearm or upper back. The drops are left on your skin for 15 minutes before your doctor or nurse observes your skin for signs of allergic reactions.

If a skin test can't be performed, your doctor may order a blood test that screens for specific antibodies to various allergens.

Test for cystic fibrosis. If you have a child diagnosed with nasal polyps, your doctor may suggest testing for cystic fibrosis, an inherited condition affecting the glands that produce mucus, tears, sweat, saliva and digestive juices. The standard diagnostic test for cystic fibrosis is a noninvasive sweat test, which determines whether your child's perspiration is saltier than most people's sweat is.

Treatment

Endoscopic sinus surgery

Endoscopic sinus surgery

The upper left illustration shows the frontal (A) and maxillary (B) sinuses, as well as the ostiomeatal complex (C). In endoscopic sinus surgery (middle illustration), your doctor uses an endoscope and tiny cutting tools to open the blocked passage and restore natural drainage (D).

Chronic sinusitis, with or without polyps, is a challenging condition to clear up completely. You'll work with your health care team to develop the best long-term treatment plan to manage your symptoms and to treat factors, such as allergies, that may contribute to chronic inflammation.

The treatment goal for nasal polyps is to reduce their size or eliminate them. Medications are usually the first approach. Surgery may sometimes be needed, but it may not provide a permanent solution because polyps tend to recur.

Medications

Nasal polyp treatment usually starts with drugs, which can make even large polyps shrink or disappear. Drug treatments may include:

Oral and injectable corticosteroids. If a nasal corticosteroid isn't effective, your doctor may prescribe an oral corticosteroid, such as prednisone, either alone or in combination with a nasal spray. Because oral corticosteroids can cause serious side effects, you usually take them only for a limited period. Injectable corticosteroids may be used if nasal polyps are severe.

Other medications. Your doctor may prescribe drugs to treat conditions that contribute to chronic inflammation in your sinuses or nasal passages. These may include antihistamines to treat allergies and antibiotics to treat a chronic or recurring infection. Aspirin desensitization and treatment may benefit some patients with nasal polyps and aspirin sensitivity.

Surgery

If drug treatment doesn't shrink or eliminate nasal polyps, you may need endoscopic surgery to remove polyps and to correct problems with your sinuses that make them prone to inflammation and polyp development.

In endoscopic surgery, the surgeon inserts a small tube with a magnifying lens or tiny camera (endoscope) into your nostrils and guides it into your sinus cavities. He or she uses tiny instruments to remove polyps and other obstructions that block the flow of fluids from your sinuses.

Your surgeon may also enlarge the openings leading from your sinuses to your nasal passages. Endoscopic surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure.

After surgery, you'll likely use a corticosteroid nasal spray to help prevent the recurrence of nasal polyps. Your doctor may also recommend the use of a saltwater (saline) rinse to promote healing after surgery.

Clinical trials

Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this disease.

Preparing for your appointment

If you have signs or symptoms of nasal polyps, you're likely to start by seeing your primary care physician. However, your doctor may refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist or an allergy specialist (allergist) for diagnostic tests or treatment.

Because appointments can be brief and there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to prepare ahead of time. Here are some suggestions to help you get ready for your appointment and understand what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. When you make your appointment, ask if you need to fast for bloodwork or if you need to do anything else to prepare for diagnostic tests.

Write down all of your symptoms, even if they seem unrelated to your nose or sinuses. Your doctor will want to know details about when your symptoms started and whether anything seems to make them better or worse.

Take along a family member or friend, if possible. Having someone along can help you recall all the information provided during your appointment.

Make a list of your other medical conditions. Your doctor will want to know if you're currently being treated for allergies, asthma or any other health conditions.

Make a list of all your medications, including over-the-counter drugs and vitamins or supplements.

Questions to ask your doctor

Because time with your doctor is limited, writing down a list of questions will help you make the most of your appointment. List questions for your doctor from most important to least important in case time runs out. If you think you have symptoms of nasal polyps, you may want to ask some of the following questions:

What is likely causing my problems with breathing, sense of smell and other problems related to my nose?

What kinds of tests do I need?

What is the best course of action?

Do I need to see a specialist? What will that cost? Will my insurance cover it?

What type of follow-up examinations or care will I need?

If I have nasal polyps, can we effectively treat the underlying cause of inflammation?

What should I expect to happen over the long term?

Will my new symptoms affect how I manage my other health conditions?

Do I need to follow any restrictions?

Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?

Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to respond may free up time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:

When did you begin experiencing symptoms?

When did you last have a cold or sinus infection?

How often do you have colds or sinus infections?

Do you have allergies? Do you know what you're allergic to?

Do you have asthma? How well are you able to manage it?

Do you often take aspirin or any other over-the-counter drugs for pain?

Do you smoke, or are you exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke?

In your work or hobbies, are you exposed to chemical fumes or other airborne pollutants such as dust or debris from a leaf blower?

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